Question about dehydrating food

[aissi]

Hi, I just bought a dehydrator, and I'm wondering what kinds of things I can dehydrate in it

Comments

[mschaos]

you can make fruit leather, as well as dried herbs (from when you have so much in the summer you have no idea what to do with it)

you can also to tomatoes

make veggie chips (Kale chips are fantastic)

[aissi]

Thanks, I'd never thought of drying herbs.

I'll definitely try the fruit leathers, I think.

[blueyz72]

I use it often for herbs, and they are so much better than store bought!! Dill is main one I've dried(basil FYI is not good dried). I"ve also dried mint leaves and nettle leaves in spring for tea(good for my allergies come fall).

Oh, and not herbs but other things are dried fruit, jerky, crackers

[dancing_darling]

My mom used to make fruit leathers with it by basically cooking your fruit down to a sort of jam consistency and then spreading it out on the plastic liner things in the dehydrator. I don't know recipes though.

[aissi]

Thanks for the suggestion.

[randomstasis]

One of the best things I ever got out of my dehydrator was raisins made from several bunches of white grapes that were on sale due to overripe- the sweetest, best raisins ever.
but veggie chips are really good too, much tastier than potato chips!

Another thought- a lot of older/pioneer recipes like dried apple pie are suddenly affordable if you make your own dried apples!
And, if you have the kind without the central chimney, it really speeds up papermaking;) (do your slurry just like the fruit leathers)

[aissi]

Thank you. I am a huge fan of raisins; I'll have to keep an eye out for grapes on sale.

I've never made paper (nor do I plan to, frankly; far too lazy for that), but that is a great suggestion. I had no idea.

[snoglobel]

You can dry veggies to make instant soup mix later. I do that with dried carrots, corn, peas, etc.

Also dried herbs are great. Someone above mentioned kale chips, which I think is brilliant - since they are so tricky to cool without overcooking in the oven.

I dried strawberries last year too - they were awesome on yogurt. And tomatoes for "sun dried" tomatoes are good too.

[aissi]

I'm allergic to strawberries, but we have an abundance of raspberries at the moment. Not sure if they'll work in the same way, but I think I may give them a shot. Thanks.

[carminaburana]

Squash chips!!!! Add your favorite seasoning or chili powders and you have an awesome, healthy snack.